People love mobile restaurant apps because of the ease and convenience they offer. Ordering your favorite food online, choosing a place to dine, browsing menus, and checking customer reviews through an easy-to-use restaurant app enhances the dining experience. If you own a restaurant business and are planning on building a restaurant app, here are some common types of restaurant mobile apps to consider before investing in a restaurant app development company.
Different types of restaurant mobile applications
From Yelp-like online directories to on-demand delivery apps, there are different types of restaurant mobile apps and their combinations that cater to the needs of restaurant goers. So you don't need to have a physical restaurant to build a restaurant app that targets this market. A restaurant app development company can help you build a variety of apps for your restaurant business.
Whether you want to hire an iOS or Android app development company, here are some of the most popular restaurant app options for you to consider.
1. A Restaurant Menu App
This application provides an interactive digital menu that users can operate from their smartphones. A good example is the Finedine app, a customizable SaaS-based solution for restaurant owners who want to automate the ordering process and improve the customer experience. These apps are primarily delivered via tablets with a built-in digital menu for users to access. However, some restaurants are opting for smart tables, interactive surfaces designed as dining tables where customers can use apps and pre-made media.
2. A Restaurant Booking App
A restaurant booking app helps customers to book a table in a restaurant conveniently. A mobile app development company can implement this functionality as one of the essential features in a custom restaurant mobile app or as a standalone restaurant reservation app. A great example of such an application is OpenTable.
3. A Restaurant Delivery App
This type of application allows you to place an order in a restaurant and have the food delivered to your home. There are two types of mobile applications for ordering take-out food in a restaurant:
On-demand delivery apps and aggregators like UberEATS, GrubHub, Postmates, and more. Custom restaurant ordering apps like Domino's.
You can consult with an experienced restaurant app development company to see which type of app fits your business needs.
4. A Restaurant Review App
A restaurant reviews app is a restaurant repository where you can explore nearby restaurants, find information about each place, and check genuine restaurant visitor reviews. Yelp is one of the best examples of this type of restaurant mobile app.
5. Restaurant Promotional Apps and Customer Loyalty Programs
Restaurant promotional apps and customer loyalty programs offer users special offers and discount coupons and allow them to earn rewards when they spend money in a restaurant. However, these apps often combine a loyalty program with mobile payment, allowing customers to order food through an app. This reduces the wait time associated with queuing.
Starbucks, McDonald's, and Dunkin' Donuts are some of the top brands that have built the most successful restaurant loyalty program apps.
6. A Nearby Restaurant Locator
A nearby restaurant locator is another type of restaurant review app. These are location-based online repositories that allow you to locate nearby restaurants and navigate to them. Restaurant Finder is a good example of this type of application.
Conclusion
Whether you invest in an iOS or Android app development company, it is important to define your goals, target users, budget and hire mobile app developers to grow your business.
Some app developers combine two or more of the above mentioned types of apps. For example, a restaurant booking app can also help you locate different restaurants in your immediate area and check out customer reviews and food menus.
Similarly, a restaurant locator app like Zomato can provide on-demand food delivery options and include features for booking a table online. You can test and test one or more combinations of restaurant mobile app types to stand out from the crowd. However, it is advisable to consult a professional restaurant app development company for proper guidance and technical support.
